In the Long Run

I have one week left to make my decision. Most people would shrug off this choice in a second. Yet, I have been vacillating between action and no action for a couple of weeks.

Here’s my dilemma. About three weeks ago we bundled our telephone, cable, and internet services with a new company. A couple of days later I received this enticing advertisement in the mail from my former phone company. “Just answer nine simple questions, and as a little incentive to make it worth your while, we’ll give you…a FREE cool, creamy and delicious DQ Waffle Bowl Sundae!”

Now, I do enjoy DQ treats. Immensely. So it’s a no-brainer, right? I should get online right now, before my drooling soaks my shirt. But wait. The advertisement includes the following guilt-inducing line:

“You’re a great customer whose loyalty means a lot to us.” (This loyal customer traitorously discontinued her service.)

There is an ID and password to enter a website, and further instruction to complete a survey by September 30, 2007. The fine print says, “We request that the survey be completed by someone in the household who is fully or jointly responsible for making decisions about your household’s telephone, internet and other communications services. Free DQ Waffle Bowl Sundae offer available to online survey participants only.”

Here’s the question then. Given the circumstances, is it dishonest, or demonstrating a lack of integrity to claim the dessert?

Posted by Cyppy at 5:01 PM